Goals: 0-1. 42. Adrijasevic. Long shot from right wing over
Alex and in off far post. 1-1. 53. Thiago. Connected with Planes cross and
drilled shot wide of Delac. 2-1. 64. Rodri. Headed ball in to empty net
after keeper parried Muniesa shot.

Spain came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 in the opening game
of the under 19 European championship. Coach Luis Milla emulated Del Bosque's
World Cup winning side, with six Barcelona players in the starting line-up and
Rochina coming off the bench to make it seven for the last twenty minutes or
so.

They didn't have it all their own way though, and with three
minutes to go to the break a long shot from Adrijasevic sailed over the head of
keeper Alex and in to the net off the far post.

However just seven minutes after the restart Thiago latched on
to a cross from Planes to equalise, and a few minutes later Real Madrid's Rodri
headed in to an empty net after Delac could only push up a shot from Muniesa.

Spain could have increased the lead the keeper not got a hand to
a header from Bartra four minutes after that, but cool heads then prevailed to
ensure the first three points against possibly the weakest side in the group.
Portugal beat Italy 2-0 in the other group match, and a win against Portugal on
Wednesday will virtually assure a place in the semi-finals.